By Jeff Frank, courtesy photo by Tara Jedele
It was a chilly and dreary Saturday morning when the Chelsea Junior Equestrian Team gathered at the Ingham County Fairgrounds in Mason for the first day of the Michigan Interscholastic Horse Association District IV meet.
Team members, their parents, coaches and mentors from the high school team scrambled in the barn getting riders and horses ready for a 9 a.m. start.
As the scheduled start time arrived, they learned that the day would start with equitation over fences (aka jumping) and there would be a slight delay while the course was set up for the seven competitors in the event.
After some warm up runs over a couple of the jumps, things got started.
The Chelsea team got off to a good start as its two riders in the event, Gabrielle Bowles and Emily Heiss, placed 4th and 5th, putting the Bulldogs on the scoreboard early.
As the Fitting and Showing (aka Showmanship) got underway, it started to rain. The competitors continued to smile and show off their animals to the judge, until lightning was spotted and a minimum 30-minute pause was called and everyone headed back into the barns to keep dry and wait.
Half an hour later and they were back underway… for about 15 minutes, when lightning was spotted once again and another 30-minute delay was imposed. Fortunately, this was the last delay of the day, but it was far from the last of the rain. The arenas turned to mud and riders broke out their rain gear … the show must go on.
Despite the dreadful conditions, the riders and horses fared well. The team scored points in almost every event throughout the day and found themselves neck and neck with the “host” Mason team at the end of day one.
Sunday was drier, thankfully, but still overcast and cool. The team continued its strong effort, placing in nearly every event throughout the day.
In the end, they exceeded expectations and came away as the A Division (10+ riders) champions.
Coach Trenda Eversole said, “I am beyond proud of the team. Every one of them stepped up and represented the team and our schools by helping and encouraging each other.”
The coach said, “This would not have happened without Coach Tonya Fischer, she is absolutely amazing with the kids. Extra thanks to The Mentor Team: Kaylin Dever, Talena Roberson, Erin Frank and Rachel Geer. They gave not only their time and experience but (also) set an example for the Junior Team to look up to. Also, a heartfelt thanks to all the parents … every one of you stepped in during my absence and made this a wonderful weekend for them.”
Saturday:
- Western Showmanship: Nellie Wilcox 4th
- Hunt Seat Showmanship: Katie Jedele 3rd
- Saddle Seat Showmanship: Margaret Manchester 5th, Katie Jedele 1st
- Saddle Seat Equitation: Ava Scripter 7th, Katie Jedele 6th
- Saddle Seat Pattern: Emily Heiss 8th, Katie Jedele 1st
- English Walk Trot Equitation: Hannah Stark 8th, Margaret Manchester 5th, Joseph Grudzinski 4th
- Hunt Seat Equitation: Chloe Sprague 4th
- English Bareback: Chloe Sprague 7th, Katie Jedele 3rd, Emily Heiss 2nd
- Equitation Over Fences: Emily Heiss 5th, Gabby Bowles 4th
- Western Walk Trot Equitation: Nellie Wilcox 7th, Joseph Grudzinski 6th, Hannah Stark 2nd
- Western Equitation: Chloe Sprague 4th
- Reining: Chloe Sprague 5th, Katie Jedele 4th
- Trail: Nellie Wilcox 7th, Trevor Tighe 6th
- Western Bareback: Chloe Sprague 5th, Katie Jedele 4th
- Flags run 1: Joseph Grudzinski 7th
- Flags run 2: Gabby Bowles 4th
- Keyhole run 1: Joseph Grudzinksi 8th, Gabby Bowles 5th
- Keyhole run 2: Gabby Bowles 3rd
Sunday:
- Hunt Seat Showmanship: Katie Jedele 1st
- Saddle Seat Showmanship: Katie Jedele 2nd
- Saddle Seat Equitation: Ava Scripter 8th, Emily Heiss 7th
- Saddle Seat Pattern: Emily Heiss 5th, Katie Jedele 3rd
- English Walk Trot Equitation: Nellie Wilcox 3rd
- English Bareback: Ava Scripter 8th, Katie Jedele 7th, Emily Heiss 4th
- Equitation Over Fences: Emily Heiss 4th, Gabby Bowles 1st
- Western Walk Trot Equitation: Nellie Wilcox 8th, Hannah Stark 4th
- Reining: Katie Jedele 7th
- Western Bareback: Katie Jedele 4th
- Trail: Trevor Tighe 6th, Emily Heiss 5th
- Cloverleaf run 1: Gabby Bowles 8th
- Cloverleaf run 2: Gabby Bowles 8th
- 2-Person Relay run 1: Katie Jedele and Joseph Grudzinski 8th, Ava Scripter and Trevor Tighe 5th, Emily Heiss and Gabby Bowles 3rd
- 2-Person Relay run 2: Katie Jedele and Joseph Grudzinski 7th, Emily Heiss and Gabby Bowles 2nd
